Exciting chaser is only seven-years-old and should now start to fulfil his
potential as he has learned to abandon his tearaway tendencies

Those who argued that the romance had gone out of the jumping game with the dominance of well-heeled owners capable of paying up to £500,000 for potential stars had not reckoned with the arrival of Cue Card, who gave his classy rivals a lesson in Saturday’s Betfair Chase at Haydock Park.

Now, the seven-year-old has the chance of joining some of the great names of the past by winning both the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park, for which he is 3-1 favourite, and the Cheltenham Gold Cup, in which bookmakers have been a little more generous, putting him in at 8-1.

Far from being over following the retirement of both Kauto Star and Denman, the golden age of steeplechasing is being prolonged, as the Betfair Chase lived up to its star billing in every respect, with the a sustained furious pace ensuring the best race over jumps so far this winter, and the promise of more of the same to come.

It may sound odd to be claiming that Cue Card has only just arrived in the chasing world, but jockey Joe Tizzard, who has partnered the gelding in all 19 of his races, points out the gelding only learned to settle in his races this year, which has had a marked effect on his potential, and the scope to fulfil it.

Cue Card, who is trained by the jockey’s father Colin for Jean Bishop, has already established a fine reputation at the Cheltenham Festival. He won the Champion Bumper, at 40-1, in 2010, he was fourth in the Supreme Novices Hurdle in 2011, second to the brilliant Sprinter Sacre in the Arkle Chase in 2012, and won this year’s Ryanair Chase, over two miles and five furlongs.

Not bad for a horse learning his trade and his jockey’s assessment that he is now capable of relaxing and not wanting to tear off early must give great encouragement for the future of this exciting prospect.

This could be a romantic racing story to fit alongside Best Mate, the triple Gold cup winner trained by Henrietta Knight. Sprinter Sacre will continue to dominate his division in the chasing ranks, but the well-seasoned Cue Card is now ready for another crack at three miles at the highest level. He ran in last year’s King George but the hold-up tactics to help him stay backfired and he finished a disappointing 20-lengths fifth to Long Run.

Don’t write off Bobs Worth who was beaten into sixth place, 40 lengths behind Cue Card. Barry Geraghty was niggling a long way from home, but I suspect the defending Gold Cup champion needs more time to come to himself, as well as a stronger staying test, to really be in his element.

Al Ferof’s victory in the two-runner Amlin Chase at Ascot may not have proved anything, but the grey jumped fluently and is certainly back on the edge of the limelight. He, too, could be one to watch for in the King George.

Ryan Moore makes history in Japan Cup

Ryan Moore became part of Japan Cup legend when Gentildonna won Sunday’s 33rd running of the race in Tokyo.

He was at his strongest when galvanising the filly in the closing stages to hold on by a nose from the strong-finishing Denim And Ruby. William Buick rode Tosen Jordan into third, just ahead of Admire Rakti, partnered by Australian Craig Williams, while seven-year-old Dunaden finished fifth for Jamie Spencer.

Gentildonna became the first horse to win two Japan Cups, having also taken last year’s race.

Moore said: “I wanted to win this race, and I needed a filly as tough and genuine as her to do it.”